BUY ON AMAZON

Author: Abdullah Sharif

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

ISBN-10: 1499388306

ISBN-13: 978-1499388305

Everyone knows of Afghanistan and how this country was destroyed and what hardships befell the nation and its people. But what about the much talked about rebuilding process?

Let us see: In this book, you have ‘combat tourists’ coming to this country, people puking in Afghanistan after having drinks too many, people failing to show adequate respect to the local sensitivities, and even people losing lives because warlords and other wrong kind of people have been entrusted with the job of bringing a healing touch to this ravaged place.

Worse happens when you discover people showing how big they are by providing cheap items and condescendingly displaying them in front of a battered yet proud people.

The book is a revelation and it actually shows why the much debatable so-called the ‘war on terror’ has not yet been won.

Afghanistan’s misery stays with a reader for long and would make one feel for Afghan people while at the same time will also show how some intellectuals go to Afghanistan only to validate their long held views about the country, its culture, and its people.

The best part of the narrative is that it is written by an Afghan who is bold enough to not shy away from criticizing or highlighting the flaws of either sides.

He does not allow himself to go on the route of political correctness and provides a narrative which is entirely free from the “White Man’s burden that must be shouldered by an Asian syndrome.”

Editing is crisp, the pictures at the end are stunning, and every aspect about this book stays with a reader as a reminder of what greed for one-upmanship can lead to.

The writer’s passion for Afghanistan and to see it develop will warm the hearts while at the same time the pictures of young Afghan women enjoying the freedom to dress up and enjoy themselves while respecting their cultural sensibilities will be an eye-opener for those who feel that their culture is superior to the rest, only because they happen to be from a certain part of the world.

This book is priceless for the valuable insights it provides and also a lesson for those who wish to understand Afghanistan from the point of view of an Afghan man.

Despite the heavy subject that the writer addresses, yet he has not allowed the narrative to be slowed down therefore it can be read by anyone. Highly recommended!

Thanks to Bookpleasures and the publicist for offering this book to review for my honest opinion.